Canada officially lists Yemen’s Houthis as terrorist entity
Armed supporters of Yemen's Houthi rebels during a rally in solidarity with Palestine in the capital Sanaa, on Jan. 29 2024 (AFP Photo)
Canada has officially designated Yemen’s Ansarallah movement, widely known as the Houthis, as a “terrorist entity” under the country’s criminal code, marking a significant step in the nation’s efforts to combat global terrorism.
The designation was announced by Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc on Monday. In a statement, LeBlanc emphasized that the move aligns Canada with its international allies in the ongoing fight against terrorism.
“Today’s addition of Ansarallah as a listed terrorist entity contributes to our efforts in fighting terrorism globally and aligning Canada with our allies,” LeBlanc said.
The Canadian government has labeled Ansarallah a “militant group,” accusing it of exacerbating instability in the Middle East. The group is blamed for a series of attacks targeting civilian and naval vessels in the Red Sea and other strategic waterways, including assaults against Israeli-linked cargo ships. The Houthis have reportedly carried out these actions in support of the Gaza Strip, which has been under heavy Israeli bombardment since October 7 of last year.
The Red Sea, one of the world’s most vital maritime trade routes, is crucial for the global transportation of oil and fuel. The government’s statement stressed the ongoing threats posed by the Houthis to regional and global shipping security.
LeBlanc also clarified that the designation is aimed solely at the armed political movement known as Ansarallah, not the ethnic group in Yemen of the same name.
“It is important to note that there is a differentiation between the armed political movement, which is often referred to as ‘the Houthis’ (but is officially called Ansarallah), and the ethnic group in Yemen by the same name, which is not the target of this listing,” he added.
LeBlanc reaffirmed Canada’s commitment to taking decisive action against such groups, pledging continued efforts to disrupt the spread of these activities worldwide and to protect Canada’s interests, citizens, and global security.
